Long-term glucocorticoid levels measured in hair in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders

Dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may result in increased or decreased levels of its end-product, cortisol. A disproportionate change in cortisol levels is one of the main hypothesized pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depressive and anxiety disorders (Casper et al., 1988; Elnazer and Baldwin, 2014; Hilbert et al., 2014; Vreeburg et al., 2009, 2010). However, findings have been inconsistent regarding relative hyper- or hypocortisolism in different (subtypes of) disorders.

Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - November 14, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lotte Gerritsen, Sabine M. Staufenbiel, Brenda W.J.H Penninx, Albert M. van Hemert, Gerard Noppe, Yolanda B. de Rijke, Elisabeth F.C. van Rossum Source Type: research